USAID cuts spark concern over Ebola outbreak management
US health officials have warned that the recent decision taken by Trump to cut funding to USAID may worsen the Ebola outbreak in Uganda.
According to Anadolu Agency on February 6th, Uganda is currently experiencing its eighth Ebola outbreak, which began when a nurse in Kampala contracted the virus in Sudan, dying eight days later. The outbreak now consists of six confirmed and six suspected cases, two of which show no clear link to the virus. There is currently no existing cure for Ebola, which has previously had a fatality rate of around 41% in other outbreaks, said The World Health Organisation.
Trumps pause on foreign aid has undermined global health efforts, as health non-profits are faced with unpaid bills and the suspension or reduction of US-funded organisations.
Over 12 Americans in Uganda have been potentially exposed to the virus, but none have shown any symptoms.
A US official said that the aid freeze has caused understaffing in Uganda’s contact tracing and traveler screening initiatives, as US-funded experts are laid off or not able to work.
This comes as Trump made the decision to withdraw from the World Health Organisation, which has also forced US staff to cut ties with the organization, which are is a key manager of Uganda’s Ebola response.
Uganda’s Health Ministry, supported by the US Agency for International Development(USAID) , have pleaded with staff to “serve as volunteers in the spirit of patriotism.”
On February 7th at midday, all of USAID’s direct-hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave.
Anadolu Agency, Maghrebi, BBC, Reuters,
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